www.iFourWinns.com

[quote="SundayDinner"][quote="powellcrazy"]I'll second Powell on this one. I have an '06 258 that I tow very infrequently with an '07 Yukon Denali. When you crunch the numbers, my vista comes in at around 9,200 lbs, which is 400 lbs above the truck's trailer rating. A couple of times a year, I tow mine back and forth from the marina where we slip in Indiana to our house in Ohio (about an hour) across mostly flat landscape and have not had a problem or felt unsafe. But I wouldn't feel comfortable towing it over any real steep grades or for any distance over an hour or so. It's primarily a safety concern, but you also have to think about the strain you're putting on your truck.[quote="SundayDinner"][quote="powellcrazy"]

Did you ever have any issues pulling it out of the water? The previous owner had a 1500 short box so I figured I'd be ok. Then again I knew I would,t have to drive too far to put in in the water.

I guess I'll have to wait and see if the deal finally falls thru and I pick up the boat. The furthest I will drive with it is when I pick it up in Kingston Ontario and bring it back to Montreal Quebec. About a 3 hour drive. Boat will be mostly empty so I should be well below the trailering weight rating.

Will stop at a weigh station and drop it on the scale see what she really weighs.

Thanks for the excellent input guys. I will have many more questions and install questions in the near future so stay tuned for my fixer upper project if it all comes together.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

Going a short distance, over flat ground, to a shallow angle ramp is one thing. Going at highway speeds, through uncertain traffic conditions and a steeper ramp is a whole other train wreck waiting to happen. You need to factor not only total weight but the braking and pulling capacity necessary. Lots of stop and go traffic or hills will put a lot of stress on the brakes and transmission. Enough to greatly shorten their lifespan (to say nothing of your own life should things fail). The ramp angle is critical and a vehicle that's too light or doesn't have strong enough traction on all four wheels means risking it going into the drink.

If your longest drive is for the initial purchase then, really, give consideration to renting a tow vehicle. One more than sufficient to deal with it. Or pay the dealer to deliver it. No point in having your first adventure with the boat turn into problems, right?

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Let me know when you are coming or if you want me to go have a look at it for you... Where is the boat? PM me the details and I will try and get near the baot for another set of eyes.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

I have owned 2 258's, a '95 and a '99 which I still have. Both were powered by big blocks. The 95 was carbureted the 99 is EFI. I figure approx 12 gph at 3000 RPM cruising and about 25 GPH at wot. I have always appreciated the performance of the 7.4 and i don't think the fuel consumption will be much different than the 5.7. Have towed with a 1/2 ton Dodge Ram 4X4 with a 360 CID then moved up to a GMC HD 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 8.1 and Allison transmission. The GMC is a bit of overkill but I feel more in control and a lot safer. With the Dodge there was some of the tail wagging the dog feeling. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

Well guys that's it..... I'm picking her up tomorrow. The survey came out perfect just missing the sea trial and its mine. Pretty happy about the survey the list price if double what I paid.

Have a few things to change and modify so I'll do some before and after shots.

In the mean time could someone tell me if the sink and shower water drain directly overboard?

I also plan on tacking out the pump out toilet and replacing with a porta pottie since we never boat where there are any marinas its pretty useless to fill up the septic tank without any way to empty it out.

I'm considering my options since this is one of the mods I will be doing first. Does the toilet use water from the fresh water tank to flush? If it does I will probably have to plug the water intake to the actual toilet and that's it. If the toilet holding tank is clean and dry I don't think I should have any problems?

Or will I?

Will look that up once its in the yard.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

Congrats on your new purchase. That survey will give you peace of mind going forward. Vistas come with different configurations depending on the local regulations where they were purchased. The default is for the sink to discharge overboard. The shower dumps to a shower sump which then gets pumped overboard. If the boat has a grey water system then both will go to the shower sump and then to a grey water tank. Run some water in the sink and see if it comes out the side of the boat.

I have purchased two used boats and both came with partially filled black water tanks so you will be lucky if yours is empty. Most toilets pick up water from the lake/ocean. On my 278 there was a sea cock for the water pick-up below the aft berth. The hose to the black water tank will have to be capped or plugged somehow. You may want to consider pulling out the holding tank completely if you will never use it again.

Enjoy your "new" boat.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

Glad to see your survey came out clean. I didn't get a chance to wander over there and see her. Enjoy your sea trial... It's clouded over here right now and rained all night so hopefully you will stay dry atleast.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

The sink in the head most likely goes into the shower sump box. I moved mine to drain overboard. Since we never use the shower it saves a lot of messing with the sump box to keep it clean.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

I would bet that most gray water dumps over board, gray water set up was a very costly option.

It would be no big deal to remove the toilet and place a port-a-potty in its place, I considered this as well with our boat.
But instead I added a Macerator pump to evacuate the black tank at any RV dump, just like a Travel trailer. This way I can take advantage of the 16 gallon holding tank vs 2-5 gallon tank.

Search the site for options on this if interested, many ways to go about it. I chose to mount the pump in the bilge with a diverter valve, one direction goes to Macerator pump and extension hose for RV dump, other direction for pump out at marina. This set up has worked well for us.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I considered this option as well but I was wondering how it would all look when finished. How is your setup with the rv hose? Did you just put a sea cock on the side and attach the hose from there?

I have 2 different set ups for the macerator install that look pretty easy its just cleaning the the part from the point of exit to the no return valve that concerns me.

I will have a better picture when it here in the yard and I have time to look at it over good.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

Her is my new toy in tow.......

Everything went smooth no problems towing but I have to say an anti sway is in this trucks future.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

There is an interesting thread on a home pump out set up over on the Sea Ray forum.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30177

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

Can anyone tell me how many volts your needle should read on the dash board when starting? For some reason mine only indicates 8-9 volts? That's about 1/4 of the gauge.

Will get my batteries tested tomorrow cause I can't get the engine to crank long enough to start I keep running out of juice.

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97 258 vista 7.4 VP/DP......... 2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali


96 sundowner 5.7 vp/sx (SOLD)

Guage should read somewhere around 13v

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

If you only attach pump and hose to pump out fitting only when pumping out, there will nothing to worry about as far as what it will look like.

here is my set up in the bilge.
[/URL[URL=http://family.webshots.com/photo/2430422080028726238uSouvg]

20' of 1" hose to run over gunwale to RV dump or port-a-potty sink.
I realize that this set up is not for everyone, but works for us. But if you can get away with less than 5 gallon holding tank of a port-a-potty, that route is cheap!!


as far as batteries, sounds like they are toast. once under 11.7 volts and wont hold a charge, time for new ones.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos